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U.S. Current-Account Deficit
Narrows, Surprising Experts

Dow Jones Newswires

Updated March 12, 2004 11:02 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. current account deficit, the broadest gauge of the nation's global trade, unexpectedly narrowed in the fourth quarter, while U.S. business inventories posted their fifth straight monthly gain in January.

A separate report from the University of Michigan showed a slight decline in consumer confidence in March.